Acholi leader says acting to convince LRA to resume Uganda talks
March 4, 2007 (KAMPALA) — A traditional leader of Ugandan rebels’ tribe said he is in contact with Lord’s Resistance Army leaders to persuade them to resume peace negotiations with the Ugandan government in Southern Sudan, Kampala based the Monitor reported.
Acholi Paramount Chief Rwot Onen Achana II has said he is in telephone contact with the Lord’s Resistance Army leadership in an attempt to persuade them back to the Juba peace talks. But at least for now, Rwot Achana’s pleas [over the last one month] seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
“I am in touch with both Kony and Otti, and we are talking. I am impressing it upon them that it is crucial that this war ends, and for good,” he said upon his arrival in Juba, Southern Sudan on Friday.
Rwot Achana was yesterday slated to chair a conference of more than 120 influential Acholi figures, in Juba, to garner more support for the peace talks. In the last two weeks, Rwot Achana has been to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, twice to convince the rebel negotiators to reconsider their decision of rejecting Juba as a venue for the peace talks. The last time I was in Nairobi was last weekend. I met them for the whole day but they seem to be very insecure about Juba,” he said.
The rebels have also rejected an invitation to the Acholi conference. “At least none of them has shown interest in this conference. Nevertheless, we will speak out in one voice and tell the two parties that the people have suffered enough,” Rwot Achana said.
The Acholi delegation in Juba includes Members of Parliament, resident district commissioners, and district chairpersons, sub county and traditional chiefs, and religious leaders from the war affected districts of northern Uganda.
About 30 of the delegates are from Canada, Sweden, Britain and USA. Among the invitees is The New Vision columnist Opoyo Oloya, who lives in Canada. Southern Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar, who is also mediator of the Juba peace process, was expected to grace the opening of the conference.
Uganda’s Parliamentary leader of the opposition, Ogenga Latigo said: “The fact that we can get together and knock heads is good enough.”
(Monitor)